The Pee Dee Vipers got their franchise off to a roaring start Saturday, taking down the visiting West Virginia Angels 123-69 in their first-ever game at the Florence Civic Center.

The Angels were hampered by the massive winter storm that crippled travel for millions over the weekend, with only eight players able to make the trip.

The Vipers didn't score for the first 2:08 of the first quarter, but then went on a 16-4 run. Pee Dee guard Gabriel Harris led the Vipers during the run by scoring seven of his game-high 22 points. Pee Dee led West Virginia 67-30 at the half.

Florence native and Louisiana-Lafayette star Alan-Michael Thompson came off the bench to score 20 points, including a slam dunk that brought the crowd to its feet. Team captain Tim Ware also scored 20 points and collected six rebounds.

“We’re just thankful that some of the team was able to make it down safely,” said Vipers Head Coach Larry Brown. “We had a great win, but we’re staying focused to take on Rochester next week.”

The Vipers will host a three-time PBL Champion Rochester Razorsharks this Thursday and Saturday.

Diesels Top Admirals in OpenerJanuary 4, 2014
â€‹by Tom O'Neill

ST. JOSEPH, Mich.--The Indianapolis Diesels erased a 13-point deficit to earn a comeback victory over the host Lake Michigan Admirals, 112-103, Saturday in the 2014 Premier Basketball League opener for both teams.

The Admirals owned the lead at halftime 52-49, and increased the margin to 85-75 after the third quarter. But The Diesels took advantage of six turnovers by Lake Michigan, and regained the lead with just over six minutes left in the fourth quarter. The Admirals pulled back within two, 95-93, before Indianapolis used a 13-3 run to seal the victory.

The Rochester RazorSharks overcame some early jitters and a huge third-quarter run by the visiting Buffalo 716ers to eventually pull away and take the 2014 Premier Basketball League season opener 108-92 in front of 3,257 fans at Blue Cross Arena in Rochester.

After a slow start by both teams, the 'Sharks jumped out to a 31-18 lead at the end of the first quarter, and extended that lead to 53-34 at halftime.

But 716ers coach Tawan Slaughter, making her PBL coaching debut, made some effective adjustments in the locker room at halftime, and Buffalo roared back to within four in the third quarter. The third quarter ended with Rochester ahead 76-70.

'Sharks coach Lawrence Moten, in his Rochester debut, made some adjustments of his own in the fourth quarter. After Buffalo again got to within six midway through the fourth, his team pulled away down the stretch.

Terrence Whiters had 25 points and 5 assists for Rochester, while Reggie Stallings had 24 points on 10-of-16 shooting.

The league gets into full swing this weekend with six more teams in action. Rochester next faces the Pee Dee Vipers in Florence, S.C., on January 9, while Buffalo hosts the Erie Hurricane on January 11.